The promotion confirmed during the Bellator 165 broadcast on
Saturday night that “The Last Emperor” has signed a multi-fight
deal with the California based promotion. He will make his debut
against UFC veteran Matt
Mitrione at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Feb. 18. The
event was announced as Bellator 172 in a release.
FloCombat.com first reported the matchup last month.

“I’m happy to be fighting in San Jose. I’m happy to be fighting in
Bellator,” Emelianenko told announcer Jimmy
Smith.

Emelianenko returned from a three-year retirement this past
December to stop Jaideep
Singh via first-round TKO at Rizin Fighting Federation’s New
Year’s Eve event. The 40-year-old Russian then defeated Fabio
Maldonado by controversial majority decision at Eurasia Fight
Nights 50 on June 17. Once regarded as the sport’s pound-for-pound
best fighter, Emelianenko owns a 36-4 career record.

A cast member on “The Ultimate Fighter 10,” Mitrione joined the
Bellator ranks this year following a 14-bout stint with the UFC. He
debuted with a first-round knockout of Carl
Seumanutafa at Bellator 157 before stopping Oli
Thompson in the second stanza at Bellator 158 on July 16.
“Meathead” is 11-5 as a professional overall.

“I’m honored. I’m so excited as a fighter. You’re the person
everybody guns for their entire career,” Mitrione told Emelianenko.
“Welcome to the family. Let’s give them a show.”